Fe2O3 particles as superior catalysts for low temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

Fe2O3 particle catalysts were experimentally studied in the low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3. The effects of reaction temperature, oxygen concentration, [NH3]/[NO] molar ratio and residence time on SCR activity were studied. It was found that Fe2O3 catalysts had high activity for the SCR of NO with NH3 in a broad temperature range of 150–270°C, and more than 95% NO conversion was obtained at 180°C when the molar ratio [NH3]/[NO] = 1, the residence time was 0.48 seconds and O2 volume fraction was 3%. In addition, the effect of SO2 on SCR catalytic activity was also investigated at the temperature of 180°C. The results showed that deactivation of the Fe2O3 particles occurred due to the presence of SO2 and the NO conversion decreased from 99.2% to 58% in 240 min, since SO2 gradually decreased the catalytic activity of the catalysts. In addition, X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the fresh and deactivated Fe2O3 catalysts. The results showed that the deactivation caused by SO2 was due to the formation of metal sulfates and ammonium sulfates on the catalyst surface during the de-NO reaction, which could cause pore plugging and result in suppression of the catalytic activity.